Understanding the Four IELTS Writing Criteria: Annotated Guide with Examples

How IELTS Writing Is Actually Evaluated

When preparing for IELTS Writing (both Academic and General Training), test takers often assume that longer essays or complex vocabulary automatically guarantee high band scores. In reality, every essay is graded against four equally weighted criteria defined in the official public band descriptors published by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge University Press & Assessment:

1. Task Response (Task 2) / Task Achievement (Task 1) (25%)
2. Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
3. Lexical Resource (25%)
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)

Understanding how these four criteria interact is the single most effective way to improve your score. Below is a breakdown of each criterion, followed by an annotated original student paragraph demonstrating how revisions move writing from an estimated Band 6 to Band 7.5.

1. Task Response (TR) / Task Achievement (TA)

• Task Response (Task 2) evaluates whether you addressed all parts of the prompt, maintained a clear and consistent position throughout the response, and extended and supported your main ideas with logical explanations rather than superficial generalizations.
• Task Achievement (Task 1) assesses whether you presented a clear overview of main trends, differences, or stages, selected appropriate key features, and reported accurate data without including personal opinions.

Common Pitfall: Providing a list of three or four different ideas in one paragraph without developing any of them. A Band 7 essay presents fewer ideas but develops each one with reasons and consequences.

2. Coherence and Cohesion (CC)

Coherence refers to the overall flow and logic of your arguments, while cohesion refers to the linguistic devices (pronouns, referencing, discourse markers) used to connect sentences and paragraphs.

• Band 6 typical trait: Mechanical use of linking devices (e.g., starting every sentence with Moreover, Furthermore, In addition, On the other hand).
• Band 7+ typical trait: Smooth progression of ideas where paragraphing is logical, with a clear central topic in each paragraph, and cohesive devices are used naturally without drawing undue attention.

3. Lexical Resource (LR)

Lexical Resource measures the range and precision of vocabulary, as well as the accuracy of collocations and word formation.

• Examiner Reality: Memorizing rare, obscure words and inserting them unnaturally ("plethora", "myriad", "in a nutshell") often backfires by creating collocation errors and unnatural register.
• What scores high: Topic-specific precision. For example, instead of "bad things happen to cities", writing "uncontrolled urbanization places strain on municipal infrastructure".

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)

This criterion measures both the variety of grammatical structures you attempt (compound sentences, complex clauses, conditional structures, passive voice) and the proportion of error-free sentences.

• Key Rule: You do not need 100% error-free writing for Band 7, but frequent basic errors in subject-verb agreement, articles (a/an/the), or punctuation will cap your GRA at Band 6.

Annotated Original Example: From Draft to Revision

Prompt:

Some people believe that university students should focus only on subjects related to their future career. Others argue that they should study a broad range of subjects. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Student Draft (Estimated Band 6.0):

"On the one hand, studying only career subjects is beneficial. It saves a lot of time. Students can get a high-paying job easily because they know technical skills. Furthermore, nowadays the job market is very competitive and companies want specialists. If they study useless subjects like history or art, they will waste money and energy."

Criterion Analysis of the Draft:

• Task Response: The point is relevant, but the claim that history is "useless" is subjective and unsupported.
• Coherence & Cohesion: Staccato rhythm. Four consecutive short sentences with mechanical linkers (Furthermore).
• Lexical Resource: Basic vocabulary ("saves a lot of time", "get a high-paying job", "waste money").
• Grammar: Simple clause structures; limited range.

Revision (Estimated Band 7.5):

"Advocates of specialized curricula argue that focusing exclusively on vocational and industry-relevant disciplines maximizes career readiness. In increasingly competitive labor markets, employers prioritize graduates who possess demonstrable technical competencies over generalists. Consequently, dedicating degree coursework directly to practical field requirements allows students to transition more seamlessly into professional roles without expending tuition fees on unrelated peripheral subjects."

Why the Revision Scores Higher:

1. Clear Progression: Ideas flow logically from specialization to employer demands to professional transition.
2. Precise Collocations: "vocational and industry-relevant disciplines", "demonstrable technical competencies", "transition seamlessly".
3. Complex Sentence Variety: Uses introductory participial phrases and complex adverbial clauses naturally.

Put It Into Practice

You can test your own writing against these four criteria on our Free IELTS Writing Checker without creating an account. You will receive an immediate estimated band breakdown across Task Response, Coherence, Lexical Resource, and Grammar with specific sentences to revise.